Is CLP enough to clean a gun?
While “CLP” lubes may prove to be adequate in clearing guns that have jammed – it's also true guns will tend to jam more often and fire fewer rounds if they are treated solely with “CLP” liquids in all maintenance events.
CLP is instrumental in keeping your firearm(s) clean and functional. It helps break down the carbon and lasts a good long time as a lubricant.
CLP (Cleaner, Lubricant and Preservative) cleans burnt powder residue and other fouling materials from the gun's bore, moving parts, and exterior. The gun cleaner also reduces friction and protects against corrosion.
The military came up with CLP for the obvious reason that having only one product to maintain firearms makes things pretty darn easy. No need to find your cleaner, THEN find your lubricant and so on. It cleans, it lubricates, it protects.
CLP is versatile - I use it to clean pretty much any metal surface in my workshop, from vices and tools to firearms. I find it's especially good for removing rust and corrosion from small areas, because it foams up and coats every little nook and cranny.
The Extreme CLP is a one-step cleaner, lubricant, and protectant designed to break down and remove carbon, lead, and powder fouling while also providing enhanced rust and corrosion protection.
Even though there are better all-rounder gun oils out there, Rem Oil is one of the best for rust protection. It's not that good for lubing the moving parts inside the gun that get heated. For the insides of your gun, you're better off sticking with a proper CLP (such as Ballistol) or solvent (Hoppe's #9).
One of our instructors made a good analogy: “Would you drive your new car with no oil in the engine?” Same goes for a new firearm. It needs to be cleaned and lubed prior to shooting. Also, most manufacturers have specific instructions for breaking in the firearm.
Break-Free CLPR Break-Free CLP is a commercial cleaning, lubricating, and preserving compound used in both the military and civilian sectors for maintenance of small and large caliber weapons.
- Best Overall: Hoppe's No. ...
- Best CLP: Break Free CLP.
- Best Solvent and Lube: FrogLube Extreme.
- Best Non-Toxic: Breakthrough Military-Grade Solvent.
- Best for Copper Fouling: Barnes CR-10.
- Best Spray: Ballistol.
What lubricant do locksmiths use?
Teflon-based dry lubricant is preferred by some locksmiths over other options, like graphite or WD-40. It's ideal because, besides lubricating your lock, it repels water and dust. That means that once you fix a lock with this type of lubricant, you can expect the lock to be in good shape for a long time.
Break-Free CLP is the standard for gun oils. It helps you clean your firearm, it lubricates your gun, and it helps to protect it from rust. It is in use by militaries and police departments all over the world.

The product is not classified as hazardous according to OSH$ GHS regulations within the United States. The product is classified and labelled according to the CLP regulation.
WD-40 is a solvent and NOT a lubricant. Because it evaporates so quickly WD-40 does not function well as a lubricant in guns. Between the time you spray it on the chamber or slide and the time you load your rounds and start firing, it would almost certainly be evaporated, leaving your gun bone dry.
From your bathroom, you need a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. That's it. Two simple, everyday household products that when mixed together in a 50/50 solution will eat away metal deposits in your gun, clean burned particles of metal and gunpowder that stain your gun's innards, and make the outside portions shine like new.
White Vinegar
It is very effective as a rust remover as the rust simply reacts with the vinegar and dissolves. If the item you are removing rust from is small enough to be submerged in a bath of white vinegar, simply leave it in there for a few hours and then wipe the paste off.
Light surface rust that has formed on the surface of your gun can easily be removed by rubbing the rust off the weapon with an oily rag, all-purpose brush, or in some instances, using oily steel wool.
WD-40 can help remove rust from metals like iron, chrome, and stainless steel without further damaging the surface of the metal or removing the paint. The Multi-Use Product is great for loosening and removing excessive surface rust.
So, if copper is present, AIM CLP begins to penetrate under it between the barrel metal and the copper at the boundaries of the copper. It penetrates under the copper and loosens it at the boundaries, causing it to be removed with the cleaning process and brushes/pads.
CLEAN: Highly penetrating gun cleaning solvent that will infiltrate every surface on a micro level to provide deep cleaning on carbon, lead, and copper fouling. LUBE: Coats and protects the bore and all moving parts of your firearm.
What does the military use to clean guns?
Currently, when cleaning a weapon, warfighters use a conventional wet lubricant known as CLP (cleaner, lubricant, and preservative) that is continuously reapplied.
360° Product View
Used and recommended by major firearms manufacturers, Lucas Oil Extreme Duty CLP is designed to clean, lubricate and protect your firearms in one simple step. It contains high grade additives that dissolve powder residue, old lubrication and other contaminates.
When using quality magazines with quality ammunition, stored and maintained properly, you can leave them loaded as long as you want to without any reservation.
After every cleaning, your gun with solvents, you should oil your gun. Again, you only need a very thin layer of oil. Always follow up any lubrication by running a dry patch through the barrel twice. If your firearm has been in long-term storage, be sure to wipe it out again before you fire that first shot.
As a general rule, it's a good idea to clean your gun after every trip to the shooting range. Defensive firearms that don't get used very frequently should also be cleaned on occasion. Try to give them a deep clean and inspection about once a month.
Cleaner, lubricant, and preservative (CLP). Only CLP meeting MIL-PRF-63460D is allowed for weapons maintenance involving simple cleaning.
The CLP must be valid for no more than one year from the initial date of issuance without requiring the CLP holder to retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests.
Hoppe's first CLP is an effective one step cleaner, lubricant and rust preventative intended for use in all pistol, rifle and shotgun models. Designed to break down and remove carbon, lead and powder fouling, the corrosion inhibitors prevent rust from forming, leaving behind a lasting coat of protection.
More than a superior lubricant, CLP cleans firing residue and other contaminates from the bore, moving parts, and exterior of firearms while simultaneously reducing friction and protecting from corrosion. The CLP formula does not deteriorate under high temperatures or extreme pressure.
360° Product View. Used and recommended by major firearms manufacturers, Lucas Oil Extreme Duty CLP is designed to clean, lubricate and protect your firearms in one simple step. It contains high grade additives that dissolve powder residue, old lubrication and other contaminates.
Is CLP good for rust?
STA-BIL Gun CLP - Cleans, Lubricates, and Protects – Prevents Jamming – Superior Anti-Wear Additive – Protects Against Rust and Corrosion, 8oz (22408) - Walmart.com.
The Synthetic CLP gun oil is synthetic based. The Synthetic CLP Gun Oil is 85% biodegradable and contains no VOC's. Synthetic CLP Gun Oil only comes in a liquid form whereas G96 Gun Treatment is available in either a liquid bottle or an aerosol spray can.
Hoppe's® BoreSnake® CLP Gun Oil cleans, lubricates, and protects all in one pass. BoreSnake CLP breaks down and removes carbon, lead, and powder fouling, then leaves behind a light coat of lubricant and corrosion inhibitors for reliable function and rust prevention.
Our RADCOLUBE CLP (GUN OIL) is currently being used in combat operations by the U.S. Military.
Vaseline – an universal natural product – not just for gun care. This lubricant for guns is free from resin and acid, is of finest white quality and ideally suitable for lubricating internal and external metal parts, above all of barrels.
WD-40 is a solvent and NOT a lubricant. Because it evaporates so quickly WD-40 does not function well as a lubricant in guns. Between the time you spray it on the chamber or slide and the time you load your rounds and start firing, it would almost certainly be evaporated, leaving your gun bone dry.
Ballistol - The Original CLP - Cleans, Lubricates, Preserves. The Original CLP - Cleans, Lubricates, Preserves.
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